Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I take this opportunity to note the passing of Michael O'Regan. I know his friends, colleagues and the people of Kerry, who will be well familiar with the Dáil hour programme on the radio, will mourn his loss. I understand there will be a moment of silence at the end of Leaders' Questions to pay our respects to him and his family and colleagues.

On the Deputy's question, as I said before, we need full information and clarity from RTÉ. The drip-feed of revelations which has been happening for far too long is now seriously damaging an important organisation which has a pivotal role in our democracy and our national cultural identity. The Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, met the RTÉ chairperson and director general, DG, yesterday to discuss the severance payments, or rather the exit payments. She has been very clear - as have I - that we need maximum possible clarity and transparency on all these matters urgently. In re-emphasising the need for maximum transparency, the Minister has also received assurances from RTÉ that it will reassess the future use of confidentiality agreements and the capping of severance packages for senior executives. While transparency must be lawful and have regard to individuals' employment and privacy rights, the DG has committed to seeking updated legal advice and to making as much information as is permissible publicly available. He is also committed to providing an update in respect of this as soon as possible. I urge him to do so.

While substantive legal advice is awaited, the DG did provide some further clarity with regard to departures of a number of former staff yesterday evening. He has confirmed that he felt a negotiated process to exit an individual from the organisation was needed in the context, that there were no grounds to dismiss the person and that the interests of RTÉ might be best served if the individual concerned was to leave voluntarily. Both parties received legal advice on this matter. The DG has stated his view that there may have had a significantly increased cost to RTÉ were a dismissal to have been attempted.

RTÉ is, in accordance with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act, independent in its pursuit of its statutory objectives and this includes all operational matters such as HR. These severance agreements are not arrangements that required any Government approval or notice and this is standard practice for semi-State bodies as opposed to Departments or State agencies. RTÉ's annual and regular accounts disclose aggregate transactions with regard to senior management but no detail is given. The accounts are published and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and are there to be interrogated by Members of both Houses, which, of course, is done by ,the PAC and the media committee.

Two expert advisory committees are going to make recommendations, looking at the governance. We await their recommendations on possible legislative changes that might be necessary and proportionate in order to increase accountability while respecting the principle of the independence of media. I do not intend to pre-empt what these reports might recommend, but I note that the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, is committed to implementing the changed recommended in order that we can ensure better governance and greater transparency and try to rebuild trust. What the expert advisory committees have to say about the role of the C and AG will also be important. We will take on board any recommendations in this regard. The Minister expects to receive an update from the expert advisory committees later this week on their progress and on the status of their reports in the context of finalisation and publication.

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